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Clinton Portis was sentenced to six months in federal prison and six months of home confinement for his part in defrauding a healthcare benefit program for retired NFL veterans.
According to court documents, Portis pleaded guilty to fraud in September after he was accused of obtaining nearly $100,000 after filing false and fraudulent claims for medical equipment that was not provided.
The Department of Justice said it wanted a sentence at the higher end of the recommended range for Portis' offense. The DOJ said it wanted a longer sentence because Portis denied his guilt until he faced a re trial. Portis didn't pay back money to the plan until after he was sentenced.
Portis was part of a group of former players who filed false reimbursement claims. The Gene Upshaw Health Reimbursement Account was established in 2006 to help retired players pay for medical expenses. The account gives up to 350,000 benefits per player.
The players have pleaded guilty.
Vanover, who played for the Chiefs and the Bolts, is due to be sentenced in January.
The Department of Justice considered Robert McCune to be the orchestrator of the ring, and he pled guilty to 13 counts of health care fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, and three counts of identity theft. He is facing a lengthy jail sentence.
The other former players who have pled guilty are: Joe Horn, Carlos Rogers, Correll Buckhalter, James butler, Ceandris Brown, John Eubanks, Antwan Odom, Etric Pruitt, Darrell Reid, Anthony Montgomery, Frederick Bennett and Reche Caldwell.
Buckhalter was sentenced to 10 months in prison in October. According to court documents, others have received sentences of house arrest ranging from six to 10 months.
Horn was sentenced in November to three years of supervised release and at least 200 hours of community service for his role. He repaid the money that he obtained.
The Department of Justice said that Portis faced up to 10 years in prison for his role in the scheme. He was charged with submitting false claims for over $100,000 in benefits for medical equipment that had not been provided. Portis agreed to repay the full amount after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
They spent a year together with Washington. Portis, who played for Washington from 2004 to 2010, is the franchise's second all-time leading rusher with 6,824 yards.
After rushing for a combined 3,099 yards in his first two seasons, the Denver Broncos traded Portis to Washington after the 2003 season.
Portis had 9,923 yards and 75 touchdown in nine seasons in the NFL.
